The National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) submitted a public comment on the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) interim final rule (IFR), RIN 1105-AB78, Withdrawing the Attorney General’s Delegation of Authority, which has: (1) withdrawn the DOJ’s delegation of authority to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to implement the restoration of firearm rights pursuant to 18 U.S.C § 925; and (2) rescinded the restoration procedure under 27 C.F.R. § 478.144. 

The Trump Department of Justice removed the process used by DOJ—without replacing it—that ensures individuals convicted of domestic violence (as well as other groups of people) don’t regain their right to own guns after they are barred from accessing firearms. Strengthened DOJ procedures for determining whether convicted domestic abusers can regain access to guns are needed given the strong correlation between gun violence and domestic violence.

NWLC is a nonprofit legal advocacy organization that fights for gender justice—in the courts, in public policy, and in our society—working across the issues that are central to the lives of women and girls—especially women of color, LGBTQI+ people, and low-income women and their families. Since its founding in 1972, NWLC has worked to advance equal opportunities for women and girls and has advocated for strengthening laws prohibiting sex discrimination, including laws to prevent and address domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence. 

NWLC submitted this comment to provide a set of recommendations for the DOJ to consider in creating a process to implement § 925 as it pertains to restoring a domestic abuser’s access to firearms.

Read NWLC’s full public comment here.